Chapter 8: A sorrowful dream.

"This day has finally come!"

I was in my room, praying that tonight I would be able to awaken any element. Or if I was extremely blessed, I would be able to awaken more than one element or be gifted with a special element like Shadow or Light.

I lay down on the comfy bed and ranked the elements in my mind based on their potential and strength.

'If possible, I would love to have Shadow, Light, or Thunder. But Fire is also a good option.'

'I just hope I don't get Water as my element.'

From my point of view, Water was probably the weakest element compared to the other ones.

'Well, whatever. Even if I get Water, I will make it more powerful.'

I got up from the bed and walked out of the room, heading to the kitchen where my mother was busy cooking my favorite dishes because today was my 7th birthday.

"Let me help you!" I rolled up my sleeves and started washing the vegetables.

***

Time passed quietly, the warm rays of the morning gradually faded, giving way to the cold night.

My whole family was gathered around the dining table filled with foods that were not only eye-catching but also mouthwatering. Such as steak, garlic bread, fish, etc. Most importantly, the huge birthday cake at the end of the table for dessert

This was my 7th time celebrating my birthday with my family. Unlike in the previous world, I always had to celebrate my birthday with a few people born in the same month on the last day of each month. But don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed that party.

Meanwhile, in this world, although it wasn't very energetic, celebrating my birthday with my family was still a delightful thing for me.

***

That night, my parents stayed in my room longer than usual to have a conversation with me.

"It's okay if you can't awaken your element. You can still become stronger, just not as strong." My father spoke up, reassuring me that it was okay even if I didn't have elemental powers.

Meanwhile, my mother didn't say much. She just silently looked at the two of us while still grabbing my hand tightly.

Finally, after detecting that I was mentally prepared even if I failed, they left the room together.

In the bedroom filled with pale moonlight, silver rays of light scattered on the cold floor. The atmosphere was silent, lonely, as if forgotten by time. In that room, I fell asleep without recognizing it.

***

I didn't know how long I slept. When I opened my eyes again, the familiar room was gone and in its place was the place where I first awakened my mana.

'This place is called Domain. That's what my father said after I told him about it.' I thought as I looked around.

In my Domain, there should only be a deep red sphere and a door of my house here, but in the distance, I could sense the presence of another door.

Without stalling, I sprinted towards that door. As I got closer, I could clearly see what the door seemed like. It was a bright blue door with an impenetrable glass frame in the middle decorated with intricate patterns. It formed a mysterious and poetic scene.

'Could this be the door that will help me awaken my elemental powers?' I placed my hand on the golden doorknob and rolled it. The door was not locked.

I pushed the door open and entered.

***

I heard many shrieks and cries, but among them, I could hear a man's scream the most obviously.

"PLEASE!"

"PLEASE DON'T KILL THEM, THEY ARE ALL INNOCENT!"

"PLEASE DON'T KILL MY SUBJECTS!"

Despite his screams and pleas, the shrieks and cries continued to ring out.

Then, a voice rang out in my head: 'You have awakened the ice element.'

That was all I remembered before unbolting my eyes again.

***

"Hahahahah...…." I immediately sat up and started panting and panicking. My entire body was sticky with sweat.

I realized my vision was blurred with tears. They were running down my cheeks. I could taste the salt as the tears slid near my mouth.

'Am I crying?'

'But why?'

'Is it because of the screams just now?'

'Was it a nightmare? Or was it something else?'

I tried to wipe away the tears but they continued to flow no matter how hard I tried. After a while, they finally came to an end.

I inhaled a deep breath and exhaled, repeating the action a few times.

Then, the door to my room opened and I saw my parents' disturbed faces.

"Are you okay, Lucian?" My mother asked in concern as she approached me and cuddled me.

"We just heard you crying from your room, are you okay son?" Next was my father, who was stroking my long hair.

"I…..am…..okay..." I said hesitantly, still sniffling from the crying.

After a short while, I calmed down.

"Why were you crying, Lucian?" my father asked, now sitting beside me.

"I think I just had a nightmare."

"What was it about?"

I remained silent for a moment, I didn't know what to say. I asked myself whether I should tell my parents about what I had just dreamed about. After a moment of delay, I decided not to.

"I don't remember either. I just remember that it was a bad dream."

My father intentionally changed the subject so that I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore: "Oh right, so have you awakened your element yet?"

I remembered the voice that appeared in my head at the last moment before I woke up, telling me that I had awakened the Ice element.

"I think I have awakened the Ice element."

"Oh!" Both my father and mother exclaimed.

"But I still don't know how to use it."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you how to use it in today's training!"

***

That afternoon.

"Okay Lucian, you saw a door or something like that in your Domain, right? Currently, you have only awakened your element but you can't use it yet."

"Your mission is to return to the Domain and enter that door again. Once you are there, you will find yourself in a place related to your element. For example, my place is somewhere incredibly hot and it is near a volcano since my element is Fire."

"Then, you will find a floating marble in front of you or close to you, your quest is to sense it and become one with it. Or you can just simply eat it."

I listened carefully while meditating to enter the Domain.

"Wait, what do you mean by eating it?" I asked again but realized that I was already in the Domain.

The blue door was still in the same place and was closed. Like yesterday, I instantly walked towards it.

I paused in front of the door, hanging back for a moment as I was concerned that the nightmare would recur.

'No no, even if it comes back, I will be fine!' I reassured myself as I opened the door and entered.

***

Just as my father said, I was now standing on the soft white snow. Far away, I could see a lot of snow-covered mountains that were at least 2000 meters high. This place probably looked like the North Pole or the South Pole.

While I was still admiring the majestic landscape, the sky had already begun to darken, snowflakes falling from the sky gently and leisurely along with the appearance of the aurora dancing in the night sky, the blue, red, purple light bands winding the same as mysterious dances, sparkling in the soundless atmosphere.

'Oh right, I have to find the floating marble.' I woke myself up from being immersed in this outstanding scene and focused on the main task.

I turned around and was dazed by what I perceived.

'I definitely didn't see it before.'

There, I saw myself.